Filmmakers

“Call Me By Your Name” has been revered by critics and movie-lovers everywhere. James Ivory has won many an accolade (most recently an Oscar at last Sunday’s ceremony!) for penning its stunning script. Timothée Chalamet has received nothing but acclaim for his exceptional portrayal of the film’s protagonist “Elio”. So much so, you can barely […]

Pilou Asbæk is known for his amazingly convincing performances in Danish cinema and recently his work has appeared on the international screen. As a foreign actor of a small nation, Asbæk has had to leave the traditional mindset of Nordic countries, known as “Jantelov” behind him to embrace his own success and receive recognition […]

ÉCU is thrilled to share, once again, some of its best independent films with its partner festival, Naperville Independent Film Festival. The 10th annual edition of NIFF will take place on September 23rd-30th 2017 in Naperville, Illinois, USA. This year, 15 award winning films from the 12th edition of ÉCU – The European Independent […]

Last men in Aleppo is a brutal, emotionally overwhelming true story of the last humanitarian fighters in Aleppo who risk their lives in a failing society. We follow Khaled (Umar Harah) who is a part of The Syrian Civil Defence also known as The White Helmets – a volunteer organisation that operates in parts […]

Chilean filmmaker Pablo Larraín has long been considered one of the country’s leading figures in national cinema. Since the mid-2000s, he has ceaselessly reinvigorated Latin American cinema through his neoteric perspectives and rich cultural authenticity in examination of his country’s tumultuous political history, creating a damningly fresh and unyieldingly honest cinematic experience. Larraín’s piercingly […]

The Independent European Film Festival, Europe’s premier event for independent cinema, announces its 25 award winners for 2016. After screening, 77 films from 31 countries over the past 3 days it all comes down to one moment: the Award Ceremony. Films competed across 14 categories and were judged according to their quality, creativity, and independent spirit in […]

A SHORT GUIDE TO RE-ENTRY (United Kingdom) European Dramatic Short Saturday morning / April 9th / 7 Parnassiens, 11:51 Anwar Boulifa is a filmmaker who began documentaries having worked for the BBC, C4. ‘A Short Guide To Re-entry’ is his first short film and was shot with a mainly non-professional cast using improvisation to heighten the sense of […]

Français At the Cannes Film Festival in 2015, Hou Hsiao-hsien won his first Award director for “The Assassin.” After being nominated six times to Cannes, this award comes late for him. At 68 years old, Hou Hsiao-hsien is one of the most important Asian filmmakers of this generation. Hou Hsiao-hsien began his film career in 1973. […]

Français “We have been fortunate to create an in-kind partnership with ÉCU Film Festival in Paris which will allow us to bring the Best of ÉCU to London in 2016. By not charging filmmakers and asking audiences members to ‘pay what they like’, we will be able to make the film programme open and accessible to all […]

Interviews with ÉCU 2015 Filmmakers Who are these incredible filmmakers that are behind all the wonderful films of ÉCU 2015 Official Selection? During the 10th edition of The European Independent Film Festival, ÉCU Team worked hard not to loose the possibility to interview these amazing storytellers. Some filmmakers who were not attendance, the team is […]

This January ÉCU-on-the-Road tour stopped in São Paulo, Brazil, to screen a selection of the best independent films from the previous editions of ÉCU. From January 14th to February 4th, screenings and workshops were held at Caixa Belas Artes. We were very happy to screen these films in São Paulo, such a cultural and vibrant […]

“Un Tour de Cheville” by Guillaume Levil is a part of ÉCU 2015’s ‘Official Selection’ into European Dramatic Short. At the top of a mountain, a man clumsily recites his declaration of love: ‘I did hesitate, but I chose you…’

For the second year now, ÉCU is proud to call this special film festival in Beirut, Lebanon, its partner. Cabriolet Film Festival takes place this weekend from the 30th May until the 1st of June. It will screen several films from ÉCU’s 2014 Official Selection, such as 7 HOURS by Farah Alhashim, winner of The […]

ÉCU 2014 came and went in an exciting and chaotic blur of filmmakers and audiences swapping appreciation for, and advice regarding, the world of independent cinema. Did you miss a chance to chat with one of your favorite filmmakers who showed their work in our Official Selection? That’s where ÉCU 2014 Filmmaker Interviews are here to help. […]

The individuals who were our submission judges and narrowed down the most creative and most innovative films for ÉCU 2014 include: Eric Dinkian (France) – director of KORE, winner of Best Independent Experimental Film at ÉCU 2013 Martin Rath (Poland) – director of WRITTEN IN INK, Official Selection of ÉCU 2013 Muriel d’Ansembourg (UK) – director of GOOD NIGHT, winner of […]

Suz Sainty has been a member of the ÉCU jury since 2007. She is New Zealand born producer, director and screenwriter. She has lived in London for the past 20 years, working mainly in factual film and television. She is currently employed as a producer for Discovery. Paul Anderson is a former BBC correspondent stationed in […]

“Running from Crazy”, a new submission to ÉCU 2014 is a documentary examining the personal journey of model and actress Mariel Hemingway, the granddaughter of Ernest Hemingway, as she strives for a greater understanding of her family history of suicide and mental illness. “Running from Crazy”, qui vient d’être soumis à ÉCU 2014, est un […]